Glendale Community College Softball Preview: Vaqueros to take field with young squad

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GCC’s Amber Hernandez, of the women’s softball team, turns a double play at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Arlene Osnaya, of the women’s softball team, high fives teammate Madison Stilwell after scoring at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Samantha Medrano, of the women’s softball team, makes a play at third base at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s head coach of women’s softball Sal Pizzo talks with Eve Ramirez before batting at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC pitcher Stephanie Garner, of the women’s softball team, prepares to pitch at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC pitcher Jessica Warren, of the women’s softball team, delivers a pitch at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Samantha Medrano, of the women’s softball team at practice, makes a play at third base, tagging out teammate Leslie Gonzalez at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Samantha Medrano, of the women’s softball team, catches the ball during a warmup drill at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Madison Stilwell, of the women’s softball team, throws the ball during a warmup drill at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Leslie Gonzalez, of the women’s softball team, throws the ball during a warmup drill at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Natalie Gudino, of the women’s softball team, throws the ball during a warmup drill at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s head coach of women’s softball Sal Pizzo tosses a ball during a hitting warmup drill at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Eve Ramirez, of the women’s softball team, hits a squishy ball during a hitting drill at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Crystal Quinonez, of the women’s softball team, hits a squishy ball during a hitting practice at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC pitcher Stephanie Garner, of the women’s softball team, delivers a pitch at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Hannah Carmona, of the women’s softball team, makes a play at second base at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s head coach of women’s softball Sal Pizzo gives direction during practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Jessica Warren, of the women’s softball team, gets up after sliding home at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Stephanie Garner, of the women’s softball team, run to third base at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Arlene Osnaya, of the women’s softball team, attempts to catch the ball just out of the infield at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Amber Hernandez, of the women’s softball team, gets a hit at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Leslie Gonzalez, of the women’s softball team, at first base after a hit at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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GCC’s Leslie Gonzalez, of the women’s softball team, runs up and scoops up ground ball in center field at practice at the Glendale Sports Complex on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

By Jeff Tully

Burbank Leader

Jan. 24, 2018 4:45 PM PT

Glendale Community College softball doesn’t have much time to come together as a team.

And with 11 freshmen on the roster, the Vaqueros are looking to gain experience in a hurry.

“I think this is probably the most freshmen that I’ve had,” said Vaqueros coach Sal Pizzo, who is in his fifth year. “We do have a lot of young players, but we also have some individuals who can play and we also have some depth.

“We just have to come together as a team in a very short time. With the break for the holidays we just had our first full practice as a team on Monday. That means we had just eight days to get things together before we have our first game.”

Glendale will tee off its season Jan. 26 in its 14th annual “Hawk” Wilder Memorial Tournament at the Glendale Sports Complex. The first day of the 2017 tournament was washed away because of rain.

“Last year with the rains, it was disastrous,” Pizzo said. “We had a lot of practices and games canceled early in the season because of it, even our tournament had to be shortened. It really put us behind. ...You can never tell what is going to happen with the rains.”

The Vaqueros went 11-21 in 2017, including a 7-11 record in the Western State Conference East to finish fifth. Antelope Valley (37-7) went 18-0 in league to capture the conference championship, as two teams in the conference posted 30-win seasons, including second-place College of the Canyons (30-13-1).

“We play in a tough conference, so the completion is always there,” Pizzo said.

The Vaqueros, who have just four sophomores, will rely heavily on those returning players.

Heading the group of returners is sophomore first baseman Madison Stillwell. In 2017, she was tops on the team with a .410 average (41 for 100) and had 27 runs batted in and 20 runs scored and earned all-conference second-team honors.

“She was our leader on offense a year ago and she really came through for us,” Pizzo said. “We will rely on her a lot in the middle of our order.”

Sophomore catcher/second baseman Arlene Osnaya also returns after earning all-conference honorable mention after hitting .255 (14 for 55) with 13 runs scored.

The other sophomores are a pair of red-shirt players: Stephanie Garner, who will be the No. 1 pitcher, and third baseman Samantha Medrano.

Freshmen who Pizzo will look to contribute are shortstop Amber Hernandez, outfielder/shortstop Crystal Quinones, outfielder Eve Ramirez and catcher/outfielder Lila Montenegro.

The lone area player for the Vaqueros is Burbank High product Alyssa De La Torre, a freshman first baseman.

“With the girls who have been with us since the fall, there is a very good camaraderie with them,” Pizzo said. “We have really been drama free, which is a good thing and the girls who have come in, the returners seem to be embracing them.

“It’s always good to have some new blood come in and kind of push the other girls. And we have a lot of that new blood this season.”

jeffrey.tully@latimes.com

Twitter: @jefftsports